Holland & Barrett Vitamin D: Tablets, Sprays and Strengths Compared

Reviewed and updated: 12 November 2026

Pure Vitamins UK is an independent British brand. We are not connected to, endorsed by or affiliated with Holland & Barrett, BetterYou or their owners. Holland & Barrett and BetterYou are trademarks of their respective owners and are named here only to identify the products compared.

Holland and Barrett vitamin D comes in more shapes than most people expect: tablets, capsules, a peppermint spray, a liquid and effervescent tablets, in strengths from 400 IU to 1,000 IU and beyond. In this guide I compare the two vitamin D products people most often pick up there, Holland & Barrett's own-brand Vitamin D 1000 I.U tablets and the BetterYou D1000 oral spray it stocks, with our own Vitamin D3 1000 IU tablets and Vitamin D3 + K2 tablets, on dose, format, ingredients and price per day.

I'm Dr. Miron, founder of Pure Vitamins UK. We make two of the products on this page, so I have kept to facts you can check, with a link to every page I read on 12 November 2026, and I will tell you plainly where the Holland & Barrett options are the better buy.

Holland and Barrett vitamin D: the quick answer

• The NHS starting point: everyone in the UK should consider 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D a day in autumn and winter. Adults should not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day.
• Holland & Barrett Vitamin D 1000 I.U 25ug, 120 tablets: £7.35, about 6p a day at one tablet, with a 3 for 2 mix and match offer on the day. The D3 is sourced from lanolin and the tablets are labelled suitable for vegetarians.
• BetterYou D1000 Vitamin D Daily Oral Spray, 15 ml: £5.72 at Holland & Barrett, 1,000 IU per spray, one spray a day, peppermint flavour.
• Our Vitamin D3 1000 IU tablets: £8.50 for 30, about 28p a day. A vegan formula with no lanolin.
• Our Vitamin D3 + K2 tablets: £14.99 for 30, about 50p a day, for 4,000 IU D3 plus 100 micrograms K2 as MK-7. This sits at the adult upper limit, so it is not a like-for-like swap for a 1,000 IU product.
• The honest summary: on price per day, Holland & Barrett's own-brand tablets win clearly. Ours make sense if you want a vegan D3 or D3 and K2 together.

Our pick for this guide

Looking for a vegan 1,000 IU vitamin D3 tablet?

Our Vitamin D3 tablets give 1,000 IU of cholecalciferol in one small daily tablet, with no lanolin and no animal derivatives. A food supplement, not a replacement for medical advice.

From £8.50 · 30 tablets

Shop Vitamin D3 1000 IU →

What Holland & Barrett sells under vitamin D

Holland & Barrett is the high street name most of us think of first for vitamins, and its vitamin D shelf is wide. Across its own brand and the other brands it stocks, you will find:

• Tablets at 400 IU (10 µg) and 1,000 IU (25 µg), in packs from 90 to 250 tablets. Two very similar 1,000 IU, 120-tablet own-brand listings were live on the day I checked, at £7.35 and £7.25.
• Capsules, including a Vegan Vitamin D 1000 I.U 25ug capsule and a vitamin D3 in olive oil softgel.
• Sprays: an own-brand peppermint vitamin D spray and the BetterYou range.
• Liquid and effervescent formats for people who would rather not swallow a tablet.

I could read the full product page for the two products in the comparison cards below. For the vegan capsules, the own-brand spray and the 400 IU tablets, only the product name loaded on the day, so I have left their prices and ingredients out rather than guess.

Side by side: the products compared

Every figure below was read from a live product page on 12 November 2026. Where a page did not say something, I have written "not shown" instead of filling the gap.

At a glance, on 12 November 2026:

• Lowest cost per day: Holland & Barrett's own-brand 1,000 IU tablets, at about 6p a day, or about 4p with the 3 for 2 offer.
• No tablet to swallow: the BetterYou spray.
• Vegan, with no lanolin: both of our tablets. Holland & Barrett's 1,000 IU tablet uses lanolin-sourced D3 and is labelled vegetarian; the store also lists a separate vegan capsule.
• Only product here with vitamin K2: our D3 + K2 tablet, at a single 4,000 IU dose.

Which strength do you actually need?

Before comparing brands, it helps to settle the dose. The UK government's advisers (SACN) set a reference nutrient intake of 10 micrograms (400 IU) a day for everyone aged 4 and over. The NHS says everyone should consider a 10 microgram supplement in autumn and winter, when UK sunlight is too weak for the skin to make much vitamin D, and that people who are rarely outdoors, or who have darker skin, may need it all year.

That is why Holland & Barrett, like most retailers, sells a 400 IU tablet: it matches the NHS advice exactly. A 1,000 IU tablet or spray, which is what both Holland & Barrett products in my cards and our D3 tablet provide, is a modest step above that and a very popular choice.

The safe upper level for adults is 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day from all sources combined, set by EFSA and used by the NHS. Our D3 + K2 tablet sits at that upper level on its own. I would only use it if you are not also taking another vitamin D product, a multivitamin containing D, or a dose from your GP. If a blood test has led your doctor to recommend a specific amount, follow that rather than any label, including ours.

Our guide to whether 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day is a sensible amount goes into this in more detail.

Spray or tablet: does the format matter?

This is the question I am asked most about Holland & Barrett's vitamin D shelf, because the sprays sit right next to the tablets.

The research is reassuring for both. In a wintertime randomised cross-over trial run at Ulster University, healthy adults took 3,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day for four weeks as either a capsule or an oral spray. The rise in blood vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) was similar with both, and the authors concluded that the spray was an equally effective alternative to capsules (Todd et al., 2016). A smaller trial in India found a larger rise with a buccal spray than with a soft gel capsule (Satia et al., 2015), so the evidence is mixed, but neither study suggests that the format you choose matters more than taking it every day.

• Sprays suit people who dislike swallowing tablets, and they are pleasant to use. The trade-off: you need to keep track of the bottle, and the 15 ml bottle at Holland & Barrett did not state how many sprays it holds, which makes cost per day harder to work out.
• Tablets give a fixed, countable dose, are compact and stable, and let a brand combine nutrients, as in our D3 + K2. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so take any tablet with a meal that contains some fat.

All four products here use vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) rather than D2. A systematic review led by UK researchers found that D3 raised blood vitamin D levels more effectively than D2 (Tripkovic et al., 2012), which is why D3 has become the usual choice. Our article on vitamin D3 versus D2 explains the difference.

Lanolin, lichen and what "vegan" means here

Most vitamin D3 in the world is made from lanolin, the natural grease in sheep's wool. It is a perfectly normal source, and it is why many D3 products, including Holland & Barrett's 1,000 IU tablet, are labelled vegetarian rather than vegan. BetterYou's own site also says that most of its vitamin D sprays use lanolin-sourced D3.

Vegan D3 comes from lichen, a partnership of algae and fungi. Our D3 + K2 tablet uses lichen-sourced D3, and our D3 1000 IU tablet is a 100% vegan formula with no lanolin and no animal derivatives. If you are vegan, this is the single most important line to check on any vitamin D label. Holland & Barrett does list a vegan 1,000 IU capsule as well, so ours are not the only vegan route.

Beyond the D3 itself, every tablet needs a little help to hold together. Holland & Barrett's tablet lists dicalcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose as bulking agents, plus anti-caking agents; the BetterYou spray uses a water base with xylitol and emulsifiers. None of these is unusual. They are simply what each format needs.

Price per day, worked out

Pack prices are misleading on their own, because the packs last different lengths of time. Here is the arithmetic on 12 November 2026 prices:

• Holland & Barrett Vitamin D 1000 I.U, 120 tablets: £7.35 ÷ 120 = £0.061, about 6p a day.
• The same with 3 for 2: three packs for £14.70, which is 360 tablets, so £14.70 ÷ 360 = about 4p a day.
• The second Holland & Barrett 1,000 IU, 120-tablet listing: £7.25 ÷ 120 = about 6p a day.
• BetterYou D1000 spray: £5.72 for 15 ml at Holland & Barrett. The spray count was not shown, so I have not worked out a daily figure. On BetterYou's own site, £6.99 for a stated 3 month supply is about £2.33 a month.
• Our Vitamin D3 1000 IU: £8.50 ÷ 30 = about 28p a day.
• Our Vitamin D3 + K2: £14.99 ÷ 30 = about 50p a day, for 4,000 IU D3 plus 100 µg K2.

Holland & Barrett's offers change often, and the site was also showing a basket-wide discount code on the day. Do the same sum on the day you buy: price divided by the number of daily doses in the pack.

Why we pair vitamin D3 with K2

Vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, and to the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and to normal blood clotting. We put them together because many people who look for one ask about the other, and one tablet is simpler than two.

You do not have to take K2 with vitamin D, and the NHS advice covers vitamin D only. If you take warfarin or another vitamin K antagonist, do not start any product containing vitamin K without speaking to your GP or anticoagulation clinic first. In that case a D3-only product, such as our 1,000 IU tablet or Holland & Barrett's own-brand tablet, is the more sensible choice. Our buyer's guide to vitamin D3 and K2 supplements in the UK covers the pairing in depth, and when to take vitamin D3 and K2 covers timing.

Which one suits you

Each of these fits a different person, and I would rather you bought the right one than ours by default.

• Choose Holland & Barrett's own-brand Vitamin D 1000 I.U tablets if the lowest cost per day matters most, you are happy with lanolin-sourced D3, and you like being able to pick up a pack in store. At about 6p a day, or less on 3 for 2, it is the cheapest daily option on this page.
• Choose Holland & Barrett's 400 IU tablets if you simply want to follow the NHS 10 microgram autumn and winter advice to the letter.
• Choose the BetterYou D1000 spray if you would rather not swallow tablets, or find a peppermint spray easier to remember.
• Choose our Vitamin D3 1000 IU tablets if you want a vegan D3 with no lanolin in a simple one-a-day tablet, and the extra cost per day is worth that to you.
• Choose our Vitamin D3 + K2 tablets if you specifically want D3 and K2 together, are comfortable with 4,000 IU a day, and are not taking any other vitamin D or a vitamin K antagonist blood thinner.

If a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian recommended a particular product or dose, check with them before switching.

Getting vitamin D from food

In a UK winter, food alone rarely provides enough vitamin D, but it still counts. The best everyday sources are oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring, egg yolks, red meat, and fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals and fat spreads. Mushrooms exposed to UV light contain some vitamin D2. For more on the darker months, read our guide to vitamin D in a UK winter.

A few cautions worth knowing

• Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day from all supplements combined unless your doctor has told you to.
• Some people should not take vitamin D supplements without medical advice, including people with high blood calcium, kidney disease or sarcoidosis, and anyone taking medicines such as thiazide diuretics or digoxin.
• If you take warfarin or another vitamin K antagonist, speak to your GP before taking any product that contains vitamin K.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the NHS advice is 10 micrograms a day; ask your midwife or GP before using a higher-strength product.
• Keep all vitamin D products out of reach of children. Children's doses are much lower than adult products.

Frequently asked questions

What strength of vitamin D does Holland & Barrett sell?

Holland & Barrett lists vitamin D tablets at 400 IU (10 µg) and 1,000 IU (25 µg), plus capsules, sprays, a liquid and effervescent tablets. The 1,000 IU, 120-tablet own-brand pack was £7.35 when I checked on 12 November 2026.

Is Holland & Barrett vitamin D vegan?

The own-brand Vitamin D 1000 I.U tablet I checked uses D3 sourced from lanolin and is labelled suitable for vegetarians, not vegans. Holland & Barrett also lists a separate Vegan Vitamin D 1000 I.U capsule.

Should I choose a vitamin D spray or a tablet?

Either can work. A UK trial found an oral spray and capsules raised blood vitamin D by a similar amount over four weeks, while a smaller trial found a larger rise with a spray. Choose the format you will take every day, with food if it is a tablet.

Is 4,000 IU of vitamin D too much?

4,000 IU (100 micrograms) is the upper daily limit for adults set by EFSA and used by the NHS. It should not be combined with other vitamin D supplements. The general NHS advice is 10 micrograms (400 IU) a day in autumn and winter.

Is Pure Vitamins the same company as Holland & Barrett?

No. Pure Vitamins UK is an independent British brand and is not connected to, endorsed by or affiliated with Holland & Barrett, BetterYou or their owners. We name their products only so you can compare them.

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: pick the strength first, then the format you will actually take, then do the price-per-day sum. On cost alone, Holland & Barrett's own-brand tablet is hard to beat; if vegan D3 or a D3 and K2 combination matters to you, that is where ours come in.

Dr. Miron, Founder of Pure Vitamins UK

Our pick for this guide

Prefer vitamin D3 and K2 in one daily tablet?

4,000 IU of vitamin D3 from lichen plus 100 micrograms of vitamin K2 as MK-7, one vegan tablet a day. A food supplement, not a replacement for medical advice.

From £14.99 · 30 tablets

Shop Vitamin D3 + K2 →

Where these facts come from

• Holland & Barrett Vitamin D 1000 I.U 25ug 120 Tablets, £7.35, 3 for 2 offer, ingredients and lanolin source, checked 12 November 2026: hollandandbarrett.com
• Holland & Barrett Vitamin D3 25µg 120 Tablets, £7.25, checked 12 November 2026: hollandandbarrett.com
• BetterYou D1000 Vitamin D Daily Oral Spray 15 ml, £5.72, ingredients and directions, checked 12 November 2026: hollandandbarrett.com
• BetterYou Vitamin D1000 Oral Spray, £6.99 (was £8.49), 3 month supply, free-from list and lanolin FAQ, checked 12 November 2026: betteryou.com
• Pure Vitamins Vitamin D3 Tablets 1000 IU, £8.50, checked 12 November 2026: our product page
• Pure Vitamins Vitamin D3 + K2 Tablets, £14.99, checked 12 November 2026: our product page

Prices, offers and pack details change often. Always check the brand's or retailer's own page before you buy.

Sources

• NHS. Vitamin D. nhs.uk
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (2016). Vitamin D and Health. gov.uk
• EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (2012). Scientific Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of vitamin D. EFSA Journal 10(7):2813. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2813
• Todd JJ, et al. (2016). Vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy adults: a comparison between capsule and oral spray solution as a method of delivery in a wintertime, randomised, open-label, cross-over study. Br J Nutr 116(8):1402-1408. doi:10.1017/S0007114516003470
• Satia MC, et al. (2015). A randomized two way cross over study for comparison of absorption of vitamin D3 buccal spray and soft gelatin capsule formulation. Nutr J 14:114. doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0105-1
• Tripkovic L, et al. (2012). Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 95(6):1357-64. PubMed 22552031
• Department of Health and Social Care. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register. gov.uk

More guides: pure vitamin D products compared · all supplement guides · Pure Vitamins UK home

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Always speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking a supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.